The Newton News
January 25, 2019
The Newton School's mission is t o develop each child’s potential for academic success, engagement and overall well-being. Through this process, we will enrich each child’s education with community involvement, collaboration and outreach.
School Notes & Athletics
Mr. Bagnato
Another Snow Day! The rain events this winter have made the roads very dangerous--much worse, and not as fun as a big snow. Regardless, this puts our last day of school on June 20th.

Keep Strafford Strong!
The Strafford School Board is reaching out to all community members in order to get feedback on the Newton School. Your perspective is really important as we plan for the future of the school.

1. Please fill out this survey, developed by our consultant, or fill out a printed copy (available at Coburn’s, the Town Office, and the public library). The deadline February 7, 2019.

2. Sign-up to talk with the consultant on Tuesday, January 29th online at http://signup.com/go/mqisoUX or by contacting Sarah North snorth@newtonschool.org or 765-4546 

Findings will be shared at a future School Board meeting.

Please contact me or any school board member with questions regarding this process.
Athletics and School Activities
EVENTS:

Dawn from DME Helps:
Tuesday 1/29 - Visiting Newton School All Day

Basketball:
3/4 girls basketball game @ Sharon 6:00 pm on Monday 1/28
3/4 boys basketball game @ Sharon 7:00 pm on Monday 1/28
5/6 girls basketball game vs Thetford 6:00 pm on Monday 1/28
5/6 boys basketball game vs Norwich 6:00 pm on Tuesday 1/29

Skiing:
Strafford Nordic Center's SNAP Cross Country Program Tuesday, Jan. 29th 3:30-4:30pm.
Strafford Lions Club Ski and Snowboard program Friday, February 1st 1:00-4:00pm
K-2 News
Ms. Kicza, Mrs. Longcore & Mrs. Robinson
K-2 gathered for our closing meeting this afternoon after lunch. Children were asked how they were helpful this week, and we heard about many helpers at home and school. They celebrated each other for extra special or unexpected kindnesses throughout the week. 

We then practiced following multi-step directions with a fun activity! Children were given three directions, had to listen to all three before starting, and then stop and wait for the next direction. They did things like say your favorite color, jump up and down twice, and pat your head. Most kids did pretty good and got better as we went on!

Read more about our week in this week's K-2 newsletter!
3/4 News
Ms. Coté & Mrs. Marzot
It was a short week for sure! Students have been examining collections of rocks; they are welcome to bring their own collections in next Tuesday. 

In reading, we have noticed a decline in the number of minutes read since returning from the December break. Regular reading develops creativity, fosters empathy, and exposes children to different ideas. Please help your child to find pockets of time to read. 

It will be cooler on Monday so please help your child bring in warm clothes. An extra set of gloves, hats, socks would be welcome. We have had a lot of fun playing in the new snow. 
5/6 News
Ms. Tremblay & Mr. Walker
Students are finishing a STEM unit in science, and will be starting a new unit next week on energy. We will be focusing on how energy flows into and out of and within systems. This can be applied to many fields of science. They will be engineering a green roof and a parking lot that reduces runoff. We will be using a combination of units designed by the Boston Museum of Science and Stanford University, and will continue to use the maker space on Mondays. They are currently designing a website that documents their projects and teaches other makers. 
Middle School News
Ms. Kanoff & Mrs. White
Movie night: Just a reminder that on Friday, February 8th, we are once again having a movie night as part of winter carnival. We are showing the movie Rio. Please take a look at Google doc sent previously to sign up to help out. We appreciate your support of this event.

Math: At the beginning of class, we often do a Number Talk. Here is an example in which students find a pattern and a rule. A student then shares her/his way of seeing the pattern by color coding and, if possible, develops an algebraic rule
Lunch Room News
Gret Hewes
Taste Test next Week!

Weird week…the weather has definitely thrown us all for a loop! We’ve had it all: snow, rain, bitter cold, and balmy. Let’s hope the upcoming last week of January we get back to a semi-normal winter weather pattern.

Next week is our monthly taste test, and we will be trying cold Russian borscht on Tuesday, January 29th.  

Don’t forget to sign up for the take out dinner on Friday, February 8th to kick off the Winter Carnival.  Click here for the sign-up sheet!
Farm-to-School News
Alyssa Marzot
Winter Carnival is coming! Farm to School is hosting two fundraisers to support Newton's gardens and taste tests.  

Newton Farm to School will be hosting a fundraiser lunch during Winter Carnival on Saturday, February 9th. We are seeking donations to help us with this fundraiser; there is a Google sheets sign up here. An exciting change to this year is that we will be in Barrett Hall. We greatly appreciate your support.  Please email me if you have any questions.
Nurse's News
Kerri Juergens
HealthHub Clinic will present a 1-hour asthma education program on February 20th at 5:30pm at the Tunbridge Central School for families from Chelsea, Sharon, South Royalton, Strafford, and Sharon.

Dr. Robert Klein, retired pulmonologist, will present a 20-30 minute presentation, followed by a question and answer session. Dr. Klein developed a successful asthma education program for schools in Rhode Island which greatly improved the management of kids' asthma.
PTA News
Shannon Varley
Winter Carnival

Winter Carnival Schedule

Friday, Feb. 8th

1:00 - 4:00 Lions Ski Program at the Skiway
4:00 - 5:00 Takeout Dinner - Preorder with Gret
6:30 - end Movie at Gym (RIO) - Benefit for Middle School Trip

Saturday, Feb. 9th

10:00 - 12:00 Donuts and Maple Syrup at Strafford Creative Preschool
10:00 - 12:30 Murray Field Activities

      10:00 - 10:45 Obstacle Course
      10:45 - 11:30 Snowshoe Racing
      11:30 - 12:00 Nordic Racing
      12:00 - 12:30 Snow/Ice Sculpture Building & Competition 

12:30- 12:45 Strafford Splash sponsored by Strafford Fire/Rescue - Preschool Parking
      Lot
       
12:30 - 2:00 Lunch - Benefit for Farm to School- **Moved Indoors to Barrett Hall** 
       
1:45 - 4:00 Harrington Hill Activities 

      1:45 - 2:30 Sledding Races
      2:30 - 3:15 Skiing & Snowboarding Races
      3:15 - 4:00 Skiing & Snowboarding Competition
       
5:00 Spaghetti Dinner and Awards Ceremony - Barrett Hall ($5 Suggested Donation)

6:30 - 8:30 Bonfire & Ice Skating Under the Lights- Murray Field

Town Meeting Callers Needed

Are you willing to be a caller this year to solicit lunch donations for 2019 Town Meeting? 

Should only take about 1/2 hour of your time and is both greatly appreciated and a BIG part of how we end up with such a delicious meal at Town Meeting...and is also how we raise a big chunk of funding for PTA annually. 

If you are willing and able, please email Shannon (shannonmvarley77@gmail.com).

NEXT PTA MEETING
Monday, February 4th 
6:00p.m.
Newton School Library
Upcoming Events